The simplest o-amidino benzoic acid—2-(amino(imino)methyl)benzoic acid—has been isolated in 23 % yield as a side product of the reaction of phthalonitrile and ammonia along with desired 1-imino-1H-isoindol-3-amine. This amidino acid was fully characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry; pKa values were also determined. X-ray diffraction study and quantum chemical calculations revealed that in the solid state it exists as a zwitterion that is stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonds.
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